Women In Wellness: Alison Rowley of Journey to Heaven on Earth On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
I GOT U would be my number one. Working on your mental health is the scariest, most challenging thing anyone will ever have to do and if you have at least one person by your side it will make the healing process so much easier and beautiful. So if that person can say to you “I GOT U” when you can’t say it to yourself, well you are ahead of the game knowing that there is someone by your side.
As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ali Rowley.
Ali Rowley started her career working alongside the great Jack Hanna, which led to her appearing on Late Night with David Letterman; Good Morning America; Martha Stewart Show; working on such films like: Furry Vengeance and One for the Money to becoming CEO and Founder of Animals Galore & More out of California. She has more than twenty years experience working with all different types of exotic animals around the country starting as an exotic animal trainer and educator, as well as working in the film and television industry.
Ali had a profound spiritual awakening in 2020, which led her to start her other passion project and organization, Journey to Heaven On Earth, as a Certified Spiritual Life Coach. She dedicates her time not only to her animals but helps others through healing their traumas, personal relationships, and guides people in discovering who they really are and what is their purpose in life. She has the tools and understanding that helps others get a renewed sense of self and create the life they always dreamed of.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
It all started in 2020 when the pandemic hit. My exotic animal education business was shut down so I was confused and curious to say the least why this was happening to us and the entire world. Nothing at the time seemed to make any sense. I had time on my hands to look into this disease, how it was spreading and if the dangers were as serious as they said. With that said it led me to a whole new world I didn’t expect to find. This is a world that I had no clue existed “along with most of the population.” It was a world full of lies, secrets and the unimaginable things that were going on behind the scenes. I was so distraught and full of fear that not even my family and friends would listen to my tears. I felt more alone than I ever thought possible and I sank deeper and deeper into depression and suicidal thoughts. I cried out to God to save me and as I looked up into the sky I saw writing in the clouds, there was one word spelled out so clearly “GOD.” Right then I knew everything was going to be OK and that word is what led me on the wildest journey of a lifetime, full of terror and bliss!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
I had a spiritual awakening. I had no clue what that was let alone what was happening to me. I was receiving messages in my head constantly about the world around us and I started obsessively doing research about anything and everything that was coming my way. I was seeing signs everywhere. It started with synchronicities such as numbers 111, 222, 333, and so on. I would see them on a clock, a license plate, a billboard, etc. I would look them up and sure enough they were messages from angels (angel numbers). Then nature was calling me all the time. I would ask myself a question and sure enough an eagle, or butterfly, or a dragonfly, or lady bug would appear. Yes, I know that sounds normal but it was every single time I would be pondering a serious thought (which was a lot). The best for me was music. I always have music playing randomly in my barn (Alexa) while I was cleaning up after the animals and I would receive literal messages in music about what I am doing at the moment, what I should be doing, and what I want to be doing for instance. The music was talking to me. Literally every song. This was my confirmation that I wasn’t alone. It was quite creepy at first then I got so used to it my life turned into its own road map. Like a game I would play and follow signs, listen, feel and see everything around me. There were no coincidences I soon learned, and the Universe was playing with me. I was the main character in a movie and they were leaving me treasures every time I completed a challenge or obstacle.
The main takeaway is that we are not alone, we were never alone. We have spirit guides leading us through life, angels showing us signs through nature, and we have ancestors helping us remember who we are and how powerful we truly are. If mankind only knew the gifts and magic they all carried inside them then this world and everyone and everything inside it would be free. It’s that simple. However, freedom does come at a price. You have to work for it. All you have to do is heal yourself internally and your external world will match the beauty we all carry inside us. Sounds easier than it is however. It takes an immense amount of strength and courage but it can be done by everyone. If I can do it then so can everyone. There is no one more special on this planet than you, If you believe in yourself then YOU GOT THIS!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Wow, just one mistake? There are so many. I think the biggest mistake I made was to try and tell my family and loved ones about what I experienced, how I viewed the world to actually be, and to try to take them on this journey with me. Every time I spoke it was like silence. Like literally hearing a pin drop, people staring without blinking, and being told I should be on medication. Now with that said, I am not blaming anyone for the responses I have gotten because the experiences were so off the wall unordinary, I thought about locking myself up in a psychiatric ward. However, I trusted my instincts, followed the signs, and told myself every day that I was not losing my mind. I made the bold decision to go in at this completely alone and as silently as possible. Within a year of what I call hermit mode and going within, not only did I throw out 47 years of what I had been taught my whole life and start over again, I went through horrific paranormal experiences I couldn’t tell anyone about in fear of really being forced into a mental facility and put on medication which would completely stop the awakening process. The main reason why I knew I wasn’t going crazy was the fact that within that year of working on healing my inner traumas, I lost 30lbs without even trying. Also, I had severe permanent skin damage on my arms since 2009 that healed on its own miraculously. So every time I questioned my sanity, which was almost daily, I looked in the mirror at my body and realized I didn’t do that by myself, I had help from a higher power. That was the physical proof I needed to keep going. Now I am not here to scare people away from the awakening journey or healing process by any means. I know now that my awakening was so intense and powerful because I have a mission on this planet and that is to heal the world. I am one of the many guides to show the way on how we were always supposed to live, our true HEAVEN ON EARTH.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
The work I am doing is changing the world. I have spent two years healing my internal self. My traumas from the past, the present as well as past lives. Yes, you heard right. I was/am healing generational curses, my lineage, my ancestors as well. When you start healing yourself then the energy vibrates inside you at a higher level which heals the planet as well as an extreme amount of humans on the planet. If only people knew that they could help save the world on their own I honestly feel most people would. Our language is powerful and what we think, say and feel comes into existence good or bad. Most people don’t even realize that EARTH is also the HEART of the planet. Just take the H and put it in the front of the word. It is my mission and honor in life to guide the human race on their own healing journey. When they are ready I will be there to show them how to obtain their heaven on earth. We are all one, so when one of us suffers so do the rest of us. I want to see unconditional love being the only thing that exists on earth and not fear. Fear is not real, it’s an illusion we were taught. Think about it, when we came into this world we didn’t know what hate, fear, race, or war was. This was learned behavior. We only knew what love was and we will get back to that one day very soon. Sooner than you think.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
1. Be kind to yourself- be your best friend, your forever companion. You came into this world alone and you will eventually die alone. This is your life, yours alone. No one should dictate who you are. Be who you want to be. Who you feel inside. No matter how wild it sounds, that is you. Don’t be like everyone else. No one knows what they are doing. Not one soul on this planet. It’s all opinions and hear-says. You know more than everyone because you have been here several times. Trust your gut, follow your own path, and remember the road less traveled might be harder, even scarier, but believe me it is so worth it.
2. Be kind to your body- this is a temporary suit you are wearing. You are blessed to have one. Just like astronauts need space suits, we need land suits. The only time you get a land suit is here on planet earth so enjoy it while you can. The more you take care of it the more fun in life you will experience. Watch what you put in your body. If it wasn’t made by mother earth then it is not supposed to enter it. Yes, I know, this is coming from a 49 year old woman with a 35 year old alcohol addiction and a 25 year old nicotine addiction. Thanks to my spiritual awakening and my spirit team I kicked that habit solo and you can kick any bad habit or addiction as well. I want you to know that whatever substance you are abusing or habit you may have, that is not the problem. The reason why you are abusing yourself is the problem. So get to the why (which may be several of them) and the addiction or bad habit will work itself out with your guidance.
3. Be kind to others- We are all the same with different and amazing personalities and gifts. We are all in this life together trying to navigate a system that was set up to harm us, not help us. Mother nature has provided us with everything we need and that was stolen from us since the day we were born. Water, food, energy, medicine, material for shelter, and so on. It was our birth right to live on a planet and learn from each other with unconditional love and share our talents. We are all here together now trying to survive in a world that lives solely on fear. 99% of us all strive for the same goal which is “peace.” It is time to get back to loving our brothers and sisters and not harming one another. We are meant to be here for ourselves as well as be here for others. It is not every man for themselves, it is every individual as one.
4. Be of service- There is no more joy you can experience in this world than the joy of helping others. I feel most, if not all can agree on that. Even if you only have enough to give to one person well then you did your job. Giving can be free. A smile to a stranger can literally brighten up their day, a “great job” to a co-worker can help them be a better version of themselves, lending a hand to a neighbor by helping bring in their groceries or mowing their lawn can change their bad day into a good day. Being of service does not have to be a grand gesture but you will find the more you do it the more you want to give. It opens up your heart space and not only do you feel amazing, the Universe rewards you for your service as well. Everything always comes back around. Karma is not just for bad things, it is for good as well. The more your heart is open the longer you live to enjoy this magical planet.
5. Self care rituals- There are so many ways you can give to yourself. Meditation is a major self care need that relieves stress. Now I am not saying sit in silence. This can be difficult for many since our mind goes a million miles a minute (monkey brain) which drives us crazy. There are several forms of meditation. Dance like no one is watching even if everyone is, sing in the shower, color in a coloring book, paint even if you don’t think you are good at it you might surprise yourself. Anything that you can give focus to that is enjoyable is meditation. Sun exposure recharges our batteries. Remember we are all energy beings and the sun is our fuel. Exercise will improve your mood. I am not saying run a marathon, but a walk in nature and/or yoga will not only improve your mood, but mindfulness, weight loss and stress as well. Salt baths are relaxing and will improve your sleep by washing away the negative energies you picked up that day from people, places, and things. My personal favorite is pet therapy. Hug and love on your pet. I promise they will take all your worries away with their unconditional love they have for you. No worries, if you don’t have an animal friend you can always volunteer at a shelter. Caring for a pet provides you with a sense of purpose and it helps them immensely . If you don’t have time, then when you go on a walk just listen to the wildlife around you. Whether it is birds chirping, or seeing butterflies pass you by, squirrels running by your feet, they are there talking to you whether you know it or not. If you have a fear of animals, no worries, trees are one of the best souls that will take away any negative thoughts or feelings you may be carrying. They are great listeners and they love the attention. And guess what? IT’S ALL FREE! Mother nature at its finest.
FUN FACT: My ears were ringing like crazy once I mentioned pet therapy. We all have spirit animal guides and past beloved pets that are always with us. Most of my spirit guides are from the animal kingdom. IMAGINE THAT!
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I would call the movement “I GOT U!” During my awakening process I would say those words to myself. I would write them on a napkin, I would paint them on a wall, I would say them in the mirror every morning before I started my day. Those 3 words kept me moving forward. Not only did I know I wasn’t alone FINALLY because I had my spirit team to guide me every step of the way, but I knew I had myself. Knowing that I got myself and would pick myself up every time I would fall no matter what challenges I would face and demons I would fight, I knew I had myself and I wasn’t going to give up. Be your own champion everyone. Love yourself more than you love anyone or anything in this world and you can’t lose. I GOT U!
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1. I GOT U would be my number one. Working on your mental health is the scariest, most challenging thing anyone will ever have to do and if you have at least one person by your side it will make the healing process so much easier and beautiful. So if that person can say to you “I GOT U” when you can’t say it to yourself, well you are ahead of the game knowing that there is someone by your side.
2.There are higher powers in the Universe that have been with you every second of the day since you were born. They love you, they have your back and they are here for your highest good. They are like your navigation system moving things out of the way so you don’t fall. Now sometimes they put things in your way so you do fall but that is only to help you maybe fall in a pile of dirt and not off a cliff. The dirt you can wipe off and keep moving, the cliff you might not get the chance to keep moving.
3. Trust the Universe. Stop trying to force outcomes in your life. If it is meant for you it will come to you. Don’t chase, attract. Notice that every time you are struggling to get something done, go somewhere, start a project, force a relationship, nothing seems to work out? It is because it is not meant for you. Maybe just not at that time or ever. The Universe wants to give you what you desire and if you wait patiently, it will give you something even bigger than you could possibly imagine. Remember the song “Row row row your boat?” Well, life is a dream so go with the flow of the river. Stop trying to fight against the current. We were brought up to believe that “Life is hard,” “Love is hard.” It is not, we make it that way individually and then give ourselves the excuse “Well that’s life.” Wrong, you make it how you want it to be. Trust the Universe, and trust the process and it will go smoothly.
4. Mistakes are learning lessons from the Universe. We came to this planet, a very dense planet, to learn. If you learn from your mistake then it is not a mistake. It was a lesson you learned from. If you repeat it, then the Universe will give you the same mistake in a harsher scenario until you get it right and stop repeating it. The biggest mistake we humans make is our relationships with others. How many times does the Universe have to show you that the person you are in a relationship with whether a friend, lover, or even a family member is not right for you and you either need to set boundaries or cut them off completely. We are so scared of being “meanies” that we take abuse over and over again from others that clearly haven’t healed their trauma and like to unload it on us just so we don’t feel guilty. Out of every lesson I had to fight to heal internally, “Guilt” was my number one enemy.
5. Enjoy the ride. Seriously! The mental health healing journey is no joke. It is and will be the toughest thing you will ever have to do in your life and once you start, do not stop. Starting is the biggest step to make. If you take that first step then you got this. Remember those 3 little words to always tell yourself “I GOT U.” So many amazing things will come to you with every step you take. Is it tough? Absolutely, but baby steps. It is not a race. You have your whole lifetime to work on yourself and the beginning might be tough because you are entering the unknown but trust me, it gets easier every time and with every challenge you face as you go along. You will be amazed at what you can do and the magic the Universe has in store for you. Oh, and don’t forget about your super powers that come out the more you heal yourself. Life is a game and once you start learning how to play it you can’t lose. You are the king and queen. CHECK MATE!
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health hands down. You have nothing if you don’t have your mental health in check. This life is about consciousness. Be aware of yourself, how you feel, act, want, desire. Be yourself. We came into this world with trauma and it ends with us here and now. No more genetic predisposition excuses, family curses. If we don’t stop the madness that we as individual souls have been repeating several hundred, if not thousands of lifetimes, then we are just going to keep continuing losing at the game of life and repeating it all over again. This is the final destination for us. Heal yourself and move on to live a life that you were always meant to, or repeat the same cycle of your traumas and add more karma to the list. This is a free will planet. Your only job on earth is to heal yourself and when you do that you can finally be free to be who you were always meant to be, your true authentic self.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
You can go to my website at www.journeytoheavenonearth.com
There will be a podcast coming soon called “What Will The Neighbors Say” with myself and my sister Gaby who is also going through a spiritual awakening in which you can follow both of our journeys.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
Women In Wellness: Alison Rowley of Journey to Heaven on Earth On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.